Title in the bag as Manchester United silence their noisy neighbours

Sir Alex Ferguson's men charged 12 points clear at the top of the table

Manchester United 2 Everton 0

Nothing is official, of course, but it has taken Manchester United less than nine months to win back the Premier League title from their neighbours and rivals.

What other conclusion can be drawn in the wake of this comfortable win for Sir Alex Ferguson's men to go charging 12 points clear at the top of the table?

United blew a sizeable lead last season, eight points with six games to go to be precise, to gift the Blues their first Premier League crown.

But there is more chance of Fergie inviting the British press round for dinner than of this happening again, and Roberto Mancini's men can have few complaints.

This is nowhere near a vintage team by United's high standards and one man, Robin van Persie, has made such a difference to this season's title battle.

But Fergie has crafted a side that still knows how to win and United have churned out the victories like a machine.

Goals from Ryan Giggs and Van Persie, his 23rd of the season, saw United secure their seventh league win from nine attempts since New Year's Day.

The triumph also guarantees United being full of confidence ahead of Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Real Madrid in the Bernabeu.

United started smelling blood several months ago and have seized on the weaknesses of their nearest rivals to put a firm foot on their throats.

Yet Mancini and his flops started choking well before Saturday's St Mary's meltdown and United have taken full advantage.

Fergie won't be cracking open a bottle of his best red wine just yet, but the sound of corks popping at Old Trafford is inevitable in the coming weeks.

United came badly unstuck against the Toffees in this game last season, when Fergie stood and watched in shock as his team conceded twice in the last seven minutes to drop two vital points.

The collapse cost United the title and has given Fergie nightmares ever since, even though normal service has been resumed this season.

Yet the Scot couldn't help but refer to the setback in his programme notes and made it perfectly clear there would be no repeat.

He said: "What I can say is that it won't happen again - or if it does then, put it this way, they will feel the full effect of the hairdryer!"

There seems little or no chance of United collapsing, not least because after this clash they face a run of games against Reading, QPR, Norwich and Sunderland.

The Blues, on the other hand, face Chelsea next and also still have Everton, Tottenham and United at Old Trafford to face on a day when Fergie's men could conceivably be crowned 'champions'.

Everton have proved awkward opponents for United on more than one occasion in recent seasons and arrived at Old Trafford with much at stake themselves.

Fergie suggested he would rest players ahead of this week's trip to Madrid, but made just three changes and named a strong side that included both Wayne Rooney and Van Persie in attack.

Jose Mourinho took his seat in the directors box and saw United make a bright start.

They should have gone ahead inside 10 minutes. Rooney was the creator, his deft pass sending Van Persie clean through on goal but despite rounding Tim Howard the flying Dutchman saw his right-footed effort hit the post.

It was a bad miss, but Van Persie was quick to make amends when he brushed aside the feeble challenge of Heitinga to set up Giggs for United's opener just three minutes later.

Demanded Antonio Valencia set the move going before Van Persie found Giggs, who saw his shot hit the upright before squeezing over the line.

That meant Giggs continued his record of being the only player to score in every Premier League season.

It was just the start Fergie had demanded and Everton were denied chances due to Phil Jones' tight marking job on Marouane Fellaini. But David De Gea was forced into a fine save to keep out Leon Osman's strike.

Kevin Mirallas then burst down the right and tried to find Victor Anichebe in the six-yard box, but the pass was just behind him and Rafael made a vital clearance.

Rafael went from saviour to creator when his pass sent Dutch star Van Persie racing clean through on the stroke of half time and this time there was no mistake.

It was a killer blow to the Toffees and United had the finishing line in their sights. All that was left for United was to run down the clock and save some energy.

Van celebrates erupts But it still took a fine double save from Howard on 66 minutes to stop Jonny Evans and then Tom Cleverley from making United's superiority look even more convincing.